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Associations between perceived parent behaviors and middle school student fruit and vegetable consumption
Elizabeth M Young1, Stuart W Fors, David M Hayes
1Department of Nutrition, University of Tennessee, 213A Jessie Harris Building, 1215 Cumberland Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37996-1920, USA. eyoung12@utk.edu
Objective:
To examine whether (1) student perceptions of parent behaviors explain variations in fruit and vegetable consumption, (2) self-efficacy mediates this relationship, and (3) perceived home fruit and vegetable availability moderates this relationship.
Design:
A cross-sectional survey.
Setting:
Classrooms in 3 middle schools in 2 northeast Georgia counties.
Participants:
366 middle school students. The response and participation rates were 59% and 56%, respectively.
Variables Measured:
Perceived authoritative parenting, perceived parent control, perceived parent modeling, perceived parent support, self-efficacy, perceived fruit and vegetable availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Analysis:
Hierarchical multiple regression; P <.05.
Results:
Perceived parent modeling, perceived parent support, self-efficacy, and perceived fruit and vegetable availability were significant predictors of fruit and vegetable consumption. The relationship between perceived parent support and fruit and vegetable consumption was mediated by self-efficacy. The relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and both perceived parent modeling and support was moderated by perceived fruit and vegetable availability.
Conclusions And Implications:
Parents appear to moderately influence middle school student fruit and vegetable consumption. Educators might focus on improving home fruit and vegetable availability and student self-efficacy, as well as parent support and modeling. The level of availability might indicate where efforts should focus for enhancing parent behaviors.